Automatic hot-box alarm for journal-boxes of railroad-cars.



,E. JORDAN & J. F. REINERT. AUTOMATIC HOT BOX ALARM FOR JOURNAL BOXES 0F RAILBOAJ CARS. APPLICATION rmzo Auma. 1917.

Patented July 2, 1918.

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AUTOMATIC HOT BOX ALARM FOR JOURNAL BOXES 0F RAILROAD CARS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.I8. l9l7.

1 @?U,95% Patented July 2, 1918.

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7720;": EDWARD JORDfi/V JOHN F FE/NERT mwmim m MW) ElDWARlD JORDAN, 0F OAK PARK, AND JOHN F. MINER/1E, OF SOUTH BLG-IIN, ILLINOIS, .ASSIGrN0JR.S OF ONE-THIRD T0 EDWARD J. ROCHE.

AUTOMATIC HOT-BOX ALARM FOR JOURNAL-BOXES OF RAILROAD-CABS. I

- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Ell'uly 2, Jltlild.

, Application filed. August 18 1917.- Serial No. 187,015.

' plete specification.

The invention relates to means whereby an alarm will be automatically given when a predetermined temperature obtains in the journals of the axlesof a car, and to means whereby when said temperature obtains the air brakes of the trains of which said car is a member will be automatically applied to bring said train to a stop.

The objects of the invention are to obtain a mechanism which may be readily attached to the box of a car journal, and easily connected to the. train pipe of the air brake system: j

A mechanism which will not be liable to break or get out of order, which is automatic in its operation and positive in its action, which is simple in construction and readily understood; which can be maintained in operative condition by trainmen during the time the car to which it is attached is a'member of a traveling train, and which can be restored to operative condition by said train men in case automatic action thereof occurs.

Additional objects are set forth in this specification and disclosed by the claims.

Figure l is an end elevation of a journal box, and indicating a device embodying essential parts of the invention installed therein.

Fig. 2, is a view showing an axle in transverse vertical section and essential elements of the device illustrated in Fig. 1 in longitudinal section and Fig. 3 is a vertical section of'the device on line 33 of Fig. 2, viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 4:, is a vertical sectional view of a modification of .a device embodying the invention on line 4-4= of Fig. 55,- viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 5, is a vertical section on line 5-5 of Fig. A, viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows. I

Fig. 6, is a side elevation of a portion of a journal box showing the door thereof in end elevation and Fig. 7, is a sectional view on line 77 of Fig. 4, viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows. A

A reference character applied to designate a given part indicates said part throughout said figures of the drawing wherever the same appear.

A represents the box of a journal bearing, a the sides of said box, and B a door, which is attached to the box by means of the hinges C, T) represents a spring which yieldingly holds door B closed. E, Figs. 1 and 2, represents a car axle and e the brass of the journal of said axle. vF represents a base which is secured rigidly to side wall a of box A, as by bolts Base F is provided with the cylindrical portion or part G, which forms a uide for movable member H. Member is provided with a shoulder it, and 1 represents a spring which is inter posed between the shoulder h and the base F, said spring tending to maintain the member H in an advanced position with the end it of said -member in contact with axle B. The spring I, in addition to maintaining the end it in contact with the axle E serves as a take-up member, which provides for continued contact of said end aXle on the reduction, by wear, of the diameter of said axle. The member H is of heat conducting material and is provided with the passageways J and K, which are adapted to be in communication with each other when fusible member L, is not in position illustrated in the drawings.

Said fusible member L is positioned at the ends of said passageways-and arranged to obstruct said passageways when at climatic temperature.

The fusible member L which is illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawing is in the form of a tapering plug, and M is a cap provided with screw threads engageable with screw threads m (see Fig. 3), which covers the endof the plug L and may be posed inflexible ner as the end 72.

nipples in communication respectively with the passageways J and K.v N, represents a flexible nipple j, and 0 represents a stop cock inter- P P N The pipe N is 1n communication wlth train pipe P which is illustrated in Fig. 1. Q, represents a signal in flexible pipe N.

. It will be noted that the pressure in pipe N against the fusible member L is the pressure carried in the train pipe P, at all times when the cock 0 is open and the device in operative condition, hence said fusible memr is made to fit closely in position.

The stop cock is to be closed only in case of the device having operated, the fusible member L having been melted, blown from the passageway K by the air pressure in J and during the time a new fusible mem her is being put in the device.

I In the modification illustrated in Figs. 4 to 7, inclusive, the construction embodying the invention is designed to be attached to the cover or' door B of box 8, by means of base F, which corresponds in function with the base F in Figs. 1 and 2;

The movable member H performs the same function as member H and the spring I functions in the same manner as does spring I.

In this modification the cap Mperforms the function of cap M, so far as forcing the fusible member L into position to obstruct communication'between passagewa s J and K, and also performs in addition, t e function of a conductor of heat from the axle E (with the end of which it is maintained in close contact by spring I in the same manperforms the function of a conductor in the construction which is illustrated'from 1 to 3.

The broken lines designated by the character R in Fig. 6 represent the upper and lower lines of the slot r in the side walls a of the box A, and S represents a plate on member H which is adapted to cover slot T when the device is in operative position. Signal Q is an ordinary whistle in pipe n which is sounded by air flowing therethrough in the operation of the device.

In the construction illustrated inFigs. 1, 2 and 3, the cap M is exposed, to permit removal thereof, when the cover B is raised and in the modification described the raisin of the cover B carries'along therewith the member H permitting the removal of the n the construction illustrated in Figs. 4

' to 7', inclusive, the device is wholly removable from the journal box (by raising door B), thereby permitting care of said box.

he operation of the device is: when from any cause the axle or journal bearing of the car becomes heated heat is conducted therefrom to the fusible member (L or L) and pipe which is rigidly secured on maintain the continuity said fusible member is reduced to a liquid form or into a pasty condition not sufliciently rigid to resist the pressure thereon of air in passageway J and is by said air blown om its position and from passageway K.

The fiow ofair from the train pipe, through this device, sounds the signal Q and also sets the brakes in the ordinary way of setting air brakes, by the reduction of the pressure in the train pipes thereof.

The sounding of the signal directs the attention of the train men to the particular bearing which is overheated. v

In case a new fusible member cannot be put into the device the stop cock 0 may be closed and left closed while the train is moved, as to a siding.

e claim:

1. In an automatic alarm for a journal box, a base, a movable member to said base, provided with passaid movable member sageways extending into and out from said x, and a fusible member positioned in and arranged to obstruct said passageways, in combination with a rotatable shaft and an additional member positioned between said shaft and said fusible member, said'interposed member being of heat conducting material and adapted to raise the temperature of said fusible member correspondingly with the rise in temperature ofsaid shaft and to of said passageways independently of said fusible member.

2. In an automatic alarm for a journal box, a movable member provided with passageways extending into and out from said box, a fusible member positioned in and arranged to obstruct said passageways, and an additional member arranged to force said fusible member into position, and to maintain 05 the continuity of said passageways independently of said fusible member in combination with a rotatable shaft, said movable member being of heat conductin material and arranged relative to said sha to raise, 110 by conducting heat from said. shaft thereto;- the temperature of said fusible member cor respondingl with the rise in temperature of said shaft.

3. In an automatic alarm box, amovable member provided with passageways extending into and out from said box, a fusible member positioned inand arranged to obstruct said passageways, and an additional memberarranged to force said 120 fusible member into position, and to maintain the continuity of said passageways independentl of said fusible member, in combination with a flexible pipe in communication with one of said passageways, a signal 126 arranged to be actuated by the flow of air through said pipe, and a rotatable shaft, said movable member being of heat conducting for a journal 115 material and arranged relative to said shaft to reuse, by conducting heat from said shaft 1 0 at/" ea t thereto, the temperature of said fusible member correspondingly with the rise in temperature of said shaft.

4:. In an automatic alarm for journal boxes, a base, means to attach said base to the door of a journal box, a member movably attached to said base, in combination with a rotatably mounted shaft, means to yieldingly hold said movable member in an advanced position and in contact with said shaft, said movable member provided with passageways and provided with a communicating way adapted to form in combination with said passageways a continuous passageway extending into and discharging outslde of said box, and a fusible member arranged to obstruct said communicating way, when said fusible and.movable members are at climatic temperature.

5. In an automatic alarm for journal boxes having movable doors, the sidesof said boxes adjacent to said doors provided with recesses, plates on said doors adapted to cover said recesses, a base, and means to attach said base to said door, in combination with a member movably attached to said base, and arranged to extend through said plates and, when said doors are closed, to be positioned in said recesses, said member provided with passageways and provided with a communicating way adapted to form, in combination with said passageways, a continuous passageway extending into and discharging outside of said box, a fusible member arranged to obstruct said communicating way when at climatic temperature, a rotatably mounted shaft, and means to yieldingly hold said movably attached member in an advanced position and in contact with said shalt.

' EDWARD JORDAN. JDHN F. REINERT.

In the presence of EDWARD J. Rooms, CHARLES 'llnnmen lBnowiv. 

